MBiz

34 MBiz | june 2017 CAMELOT INTRODUCTIONS P rofessional matchmaker Lianne Tregobov has made a lot of love connections in her time. The owner of Camelot Introductions brings the gift of intuition, combined with 23 years of experience, to her work helping men and women find their perfect life partner. While her clients range in age from their late twenties to early nineties, they share common traits — they are ready to commit to a serious relationship, they are financially secure — but they're still missing that special someone. "They may have it all — except love," she says. "My clients are all looking for a long-term partner. They're coming to me and putting their hearts in my hands and saying, 'Help me fill it with love'." Tregobov says clients may be single, widowed, divorced or legally separated, and generally fall into three categories: Younger men and women who have completed their professional education; people who are well established in their careers, and people who are retired. They're not interested in having an online profile, and they don't want to waste time and energy weeding out fakes and flakes. In some cases, they have met people online and have been frustrated and disappointed by the experience. Tregobov says traditional matchmaking eliminates the guesswork, and her professional services have built-in safeguards. A fee in Winnipeg of $675 includes tax and the cost of a criminal record check. She prescreens clients by phone before they meet for a face-to-face interview, where she creates a profile. When she selects a potential partner, Tregobov's assistant contacts both parties to share general information, but she respects client confidentiality. If both clients agree, they talk over the phone and decide if they wish to meet. Most people turn to trusted professionals to handle their business and legal affairs, so why settle for less when it comes to affairs of the heart? Friends and family may be eager to set up blind dates, but often the only common denominator is that someone else they know is single, which doesn't constitute a match. Tregobov only introduces people who she feels have the potential to form a long-term relationship. For more than two decades, she has been extremely successful at creating happily-ever-afters, particularly for men who were previously reluctant to take a chance on love. For a limited time, Camelot Introductions is offering memberships to qualifying men giving them unlimited introductions for a one-year period, but Tregobov says it takes only three face-to-face meetings on average before clients are happily matched. "Winnipeg is full of incredible women so it is easy for great guys to get snapped up in a minute. There's no reason in the world for a good guy to remain on his own if he wants a relationship," she says. The benefits of a healthy relationship are good for the heart in more ways than one. Tregobov believes that having someone who loves you unconditionally and gives your life purpose is like an insurance policy. Studies have shown that harmonious bonds protect us from many of the stressors that can lead to disease, and the benefits are greater for men. But despite the proliferation of social media like Facebook, Tregobov says it's more and more difficult these days for singles to make a real connection. "For a lot of people today, socialization is done electronically. We take people back to old-fashioned matchmaking, where they're not texting or emailing —they are actually communicating." ■ Partners for life Traditional matchmaking stands the test of time Photo by Darcy Finley "My clients are all looking for a long-term partner. They're coming to me and putting their hearts in my hands and saying, 'Help me fill it with love'."

• Cover